Yemen Rebels Emerged From Political Upheaval

Houthis Gained Followers, Power Amid Turmoil

The Houthis, the group that has taken center stage in Yemen’s politics and the U.S.’s counterterrorism efforts in the southern Arabian peninsula, have risen from relative obscurity over the past decade to become a potent political and military force.

The group originated in the 1990s in northwestern Yemen as a movement led by Hussein Al Houthi, a religious and political figure. Originally known as the Believing Youth, they adhered to...